India Summons Pakistani Diplomat, Lodges Strong Protest Over Attacks On Sikh Community Members

Four such incidents have taken place between April and June and India has taken serious note of these attacks, PTI reported citing sources.

India Summons Pakistani Diplomat, Lodges Strong Protest Over Attacks On Sikh Community Members

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New Delhi: Following the recent incidents of attacks on members of the Sikh community in Pakistan, India summoned a senior diplomat of the Pakistan High Commission and lodged a strong protest against the incidents, news agency PTI reported on Monday.

According to the agency, four such incidents have taken place between April and June and India has taken serious note of these attacks.

"India has demanded that Pakistani authorities investigate these violent attacks on the Sikh community with sincerity and share the investigation reports," PTI reported citing a source.

"It has also been conveyed that Pakistan should ensure the safety and security of its minorities, who live in constant fear of religious persecution," the source added.

Notably, unidentified gunmen on Sunday shot and killed a Sikh man in an overnight attack in the northwestern city of Peshawar, in a probable case of targetted killing.

Manmohan Singh, 35, was on his way to the interior city area of Peshawar from Rasheed Garhi, a suburban locality of Peshawar when some armed men attacked him near Guldara Chowk Kakshal, which comes under the jurisdiction of Yakka Toot police station.

Though Singh was shifted to a hospital, he was pronounced dead by the doctors, police said.

Ashfaq Anwar, city police chief in Peshawar, told reporters that some suspects have been arrested in the murder of Singh and that they are close to arresting the main accused involved in the murder.

Police have been directed to ensure the protection of life and property of law-abiding citizens in the province. They are investigating the case from different angles, the police chief said.

This is the second incident of armed attack on a Sikh man in the Yakka Toot area in the last 48 hours.

Earlier, on Friday, a Sikh man was injured after he sustained bullet wounds on his legs.

Muslims account for about 96 per cent of Pakistan’s 207 million population, Hindus 2.1 per cent and Christians about 1.6 per cent, PTI reported citing the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan estimates.